BJØRN RIIS – Divergence

RELEASE YEAR: 2026
BAND URL: https://bjornriis.bandcamp.com/album/divergence

Sporting an evocative title and even better artwork, the latest offering by the innovative and infinitely skilled Bjørn Riis of Airbag fame, namely the 4-song EP Divergence, is as richly rewarding a listen as one could have hoped for. In terms of style, melodic flair, and emotional resonance, it serves as the perfect successor to Riis’ two previous efforts, more specifically Fimbulvinter and Lifandi, and is to be considered the third and final part of a trilogy.

Melancholy and introspection wrapped in gorgeous melodies and layers of sound is luckily still the modus operandi only that Riis seems to expand on his cinematic and reflective musical universe on each release. Tightly executed and crisp-sounding without losing any of its heart or soul, Divergence delivers four compositions that are among the most colorful and varied of Bjørn’s career. Dynamics is obviously a concept that he is intimately familiar with, and though the opening riff to “Break Free” is miles apart from the solemn tone of “Mercy” or the unshakable poignancy of “Carry Me,” they complement each other superbly in that they spring from the same well of deep-seated emotions that revolve around the human condition. Bjørn’s approach to crafting songs is so determinedly unique that he somehow manages to bridge whatever gaps there may be, which is to say that one part recalling KISS moves seamlessly into one that echoes Pink Floyd or maybe Steven Wilson. Riis is proudly displaying his many influences on this disc – more prominently than ever before – and it is all the better for it. Being a fan of both Frehley and Gilmour is not a contradiction, you guys.

Bittersweet memories and quiet longing have rarely sounded better than they do here, and this is a fantastic little gem that concludes his personal trilogy in grand style.